308 



On the Physical Geography of Norway. 



ever, as at Kaa-fiord, which lias a continental climate), the 

 comparatively narrow space where the mountains have a de- 

 cided western declivity. The result of the projection (due 

 regard being had to the number and worth of the observa- 

 tions upon which it is based) is, that the curves are nearly 

 flat between 59° and 62°, where they begin to decline rather 

 rapidly — passing from convex to concave about the 65th 

 degree, from which point northwards they decline, but with 

 extreme slowness. This form of the snow line is, I am per- 

 suaded, in the main correct. The rapid fall north of the 

 Dovre-field, its flatness in the south, and its slow declivity 

 in the north, all correspond to observation. I shall now give 

 a table founded on these curves, for every two degrees of 

 latitude. 



Table of the Height of tiie Snow Line 

 and Limit of the Common Birch (Betula alba) in Norway. 



Latitude 



Snow Line. 



Limit of Birch. 



North. 



Interior. 



Coast. 



Difference. 



Interior. 



Coast. 



Difference. 



60° 



Eng. Ft. 

 5500 



Eng. Ft. 

 4450 



Eng. Ft. 

 1050 



Eng. Ft. 

 3600 



Eng. Ft. 

 2650 



Eng. Ft. 

 950 



62° 



5200 



4150 



1050 



3350 



2150 



900 



64° 



4200 



3650 



550 



2300 



1900 



400 



66° 



3700 



3250 



450 



1750 



1450 



300 



68° 



3450 



3000 



450 



1500 



1150 



350 



70° 



3350 



2900 



450 



1350 



950 



400 



It will be understood that these numbers must be con- 

 sidered as mere approximations. Errors of from 100 to 200 

 feet may well occur in the best determinations of this kind. 

 Besides, the distinction of Interior and Coast evidently does 

 not admit of precision. 



Beyond the limits of Norway the depression of the snow 

 line is probably much more rapid. Over the ocean we come 

 into wholly new climatic conditions. The level of the snow 

 line at Cherry or Beeren Island, lat. 74£-°, has been estimated 

 at 180 metres, about 600 English feet, and at Spitzbergen, 

 lat. 79|°, at ; but I have already stated that this last result 

 is inadmissible. 



The preceding discussions establish completely the influence 

 of climate in determining the rise of the snow plane towards 



